Actuating mechanism for pressing machines



March 15, 1932. E. DAVIS 1,849,913

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Shet 1 i1 o M 46 i .6/

INVENTOR.

, BY W n/11M A TTORNEYS March 15, 1932. 5-. DAVIS 1,849,913

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rf -l lllrlllrllilllliliir II IIIII IIIII IIIIII IIIIIVIIIIII'IIII IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 1932 v v UNITED STATES ERNEST ACTUATING MECHANISM Original application filed December 2, 1926, Serial No. 17, 1928, Serial No. 320,147.

This invention relates to pressing machines, particularly power operated pressing machines as garment and laundry pressing machines of the platen type having an opening and closing movement, and has for its object a particularly simple and eflicient power or motor means controlled by the operator for initially opening or unlocking the press so that the completion of the opening movement can be effected by the counterweight, countersprings or other means employed in this type of machine to open the press when the force tending to hold it closed is discontinned. The invention is particularly adapted to pressing machines which are closed by power and the application of power controlled by a two hand mechanism re uiring both hands of the operator to be use until the press is closed and locked in closed position, and which are held in closed'position under pressure by the lock rather than by the motor. This application is a division of my pending application Sr. No. 152,277 filed December 2, 1926 now Patent 1,805,569, granted May 19, 1931.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1. is a side elevation, partly in sec-.

tion, of a pressing machine embodying my invention, the machine being shown as in closed position. V I

Figure 2 is a sectionalivie'w, partly in elevation, of the power mechanism for closing thepress andfor unlocking thepress prelimia y to theo'pening thereof. I p M This pressing machine comprises, generally, cooperating: pressing elements, one offv whichis movable 1 toward "and r fromithe other, r 1 power actuated mechanism for actuating'the movable :elemeiit, into clos'eds'position, a lock forslockingZtheupressin-closed'position, means, as-counterw igh ilCQllHterSPIfmg em1-.- dr; -ingwzto op n thepres mhen;unl s k dapq r means for closing the press and vmanual means for controlling the actuation of the DAVIS,OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGR'OR TO .THE PROSPERITY INC., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK scribed. a: 5 j; l

COMPANY FOR DRESSING MACHINES 152,277. Divided and this application filed November Renewed August 10, 1931.

power means, the manual means being returnable automatically to its starting position, when released by the operator and thereby relieving the motor of its actuating force or motive fluid when the press is closed or when the operator releases the manuals.

The press here shown includes upper and lower pressing elements, as a head '1 and a buck 2, the head being movable toward and from the buck 2, and theglater being mounted in any suitable manner on a frame 3.- The head 1 is shown as carried at the forward end of a yoke or lever 4 pivoted at5 between its ends to a standard 6frising from the frame and the power actuated mechanism, in addition to this lever 4, includesmotion transmitting parts which are locked in their position assumed when the. press is closed and these parts are here shown as toggle links 8, 9 pivoted together at 10,the link 8 being pivoted at 11 to the rear arm of the lever 4 and the link 9 pivoted at 12 to the base of the frame, the link 9 havinga forwardly extending power arm 13 to which the 1 motor .to be presently described, is connected. A counterweight 14 acting on the rear, arm

of the lever 4 tends to open the press. Also, 2

a spring 15 acting to pullfupwardly' 1 power arm 13 acts to open the press.

When a toggle is used, it does'notymove into self-locking position orin'toa dead center position, as shownin my pending appncation Sr. No. 152,277 and when. mechanism, other than a togglefone'is used,thereis no; self-locking action. any?ofthemotion1."; transmitting mechanism "that may be used"; A

a lock or latch' 16is provided andarrangea to come into action affirm locking-"engage ment when the press isclo'sedl As hereillus' tr'ated, he. lock or latch 16 is 'pivoted to" t frame and is pressed int 7 erases position by a spring 17; and "moved out of eperative fpositi 'on by -m eans"- be hereina'tfiter d .Theipowemactu g:.on;t h p iarlii 13i'to close :theupleSsj-isihere hown as y;1in er. 18:an I1. mm

cylin er and,arannec d;brats-mid power arm 13. The piston 18 is single act ing. 7 The flow of motive fluid, as compressed 9 on the? air, to the cylinder is controlled through a valve mechanism requiring that two hands be used to close the press, although insofar as this invention is concerned, an-operating mechanism including but one handle or pedal may be employed.

21 designates the feed line for a motive fluid as compresed air. The air is conducted from the feed line 21 through a coupling 22, valve casing 23, pipe 24 to the intake port 25 of the cylinder, and the flow of air from the pipe 21 through the valve casing 23 is controlled by a normally closed intake valve 26 connected by a stem 27 to a normally open exhaust valve 28. The pipe 24 leads from the valve casing 23 between these valves. The valve 26 is 'held against its seat by a spring 29 and also by the abutment 30 in the valve casing. Owing to the fact that the valves 26 and 28 are connected by a stem 27, they act as a unit. They are operated by a manual as a push button 31 which acts upon a lever 32 pivoted at 33 to a suitable support 34 mounted on the frame of the machine, the lever 32 having an arm acting upon a second lever 35 which pushes against the stem 37 of the normally open exhaust valve 28. Obviously, when the button31 is depressed, the exhaust valve 28 will be closed and the intake valve 26 opened so that air can pass from the feed pipe 21 through the valve casing 23, pipe 24 to the port 28, if an additional exhaust valve to be presently described, is held closed.

37 designates a normally open exhaust valve located in a valve casing 38 which is connected by a pipe 39 to the pipe 24, this valve being operated to its closed position by a manual 40 similar to the push button 31. Thus both push buttons 31 and 40 must be held depressed in order that air may enter the cylinder 18 to actuate the piston 19 for if either hand is removed before the press is closed and looked, as will be presently described, the air will exhaust out of the cylindgr through either the exhaust valve 28 or 3 The means for unlocking the press so that it can be opened by the counterweight and springs 14, 15, 15a comprises a pressure operated motor connected to the feed pipe 21 and controlled by a handle grouped with one of the push buttons 31 or 40. As here shown,

the fluid operated motor is a pressure chamber 41 connected by a pipe 42 to a valve casing 43 having a valve mechanism thzrein, the casing being connected by a pipe 44 to the feed pipe 21. The valves in the casing 43 are similar to the valves in the casing 23, 'and comprises a normally closed spring pressed intake valve 45 connected by a stem 46 to a normally open exhaust valve 47 so that these valves act as a unit, the valves being operated by a handle or lever 48 which is grouped with .the push button 31 and which acts on the stem 49 of the valve 47. Obviously, as this handle 48 is operated, it will open the intake valve permitting air to enter 1nto the pressure chamber 41 and when the handle is released, the air will exhaust from the pressure chamber permitting the parts operated thereby to be restored to their starting position.

WVithin the pressure chamber is a diaphragm 50 which acts on a push rod 51 which in turn'acts on the latch or lock 16 to move it out of its operative position against the action of the spring 17. When the press is closed, and locked in closed position by the latch 16, the operator releases the push buttons 31 and 40 and the air exhausts from the cylinder 18 but the press remains closed owing to the fact that it is held closed by the lock or latch 16.

To open the press, it is merely necessary to operate the lever 40 to permit air to flow t0 the pressure chamber 41 so that it actuates the push rod 51 and moves the latch 16 out of engagement with the spring 17 so that the press is free to open under the influence of the counterweight and, springs. The pressure chamber 41 is supported on the frame in any suitable manner.

What I claim is:

1. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from 'the other, power actuated mechanism for actuating the movable element into closed position, a lock for looking the press in closed position, manual means which when operated, causes the flow of power to the power mechanism, and when released, shuts off the flow of power to the power mechanism and releases the same, means tending to open the press against the power mechanism and the locking means, and manually controlled power means for unlocking the locking means.

2. A pressing machine including cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, power actuated mechanism connected to the movable element for moving it into closed position, means for locking said mechanism in its position assumed when the press is closed, a fluid motor connected to said mechanism to actuate it to close the press, a feed pipe for supplying fluid to the motor, means tending to open the press, a second fluid motor acting on the locking means to unlock the same and connected to the feed pipe, manually operated valve means for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the first motor and normally arranged to permit the fluid to exhaust from theififidmotor and movable automatically into such position when released, and manual means for controlling the flow of fluid to the second motor.

3. A pressing machine including cooperatlocked to open position, a motor including a movable member, means for transmitting the movement of the movable member to the movable pressing element, to close the same, and locking means movable into and out of engagement with the movable member for looking the same when. the pressing element is in closed position, and means tending to move the locking means in one direction, and manually controlled power actuated means for moving it in the opposite direction.

4. In a pressing machine, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; toggle means for moving the movable pressing element; actuating means for said toggle means; means for operating the actuating means to move the toggle into straightened position; means to lock the toggle in straightened position; a device tending to move the toggle means to open the press; and means for releasing the locking means.

5. A pressing machine including cooperating elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; mech nism connected to the movable element for oving it into closed position including a to gle movable into a straightened position; eans for locking the toggle in straightened position; -means tending to open the press; a motor connected to the toggle mechanism to move it into straightened position; and an additional motor and press closed; and means to release the latch.

7. A garment or laundry pressing machine including in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable to open and close the press; actuating mechanism for the movable pressing element including a toggle movable toward straightened position to close the press and having a pivot pin connecting the links thereof; a latch pivotally connected with the frame and extending into the path of the toggle pivot pin to engage the same and lock the press closed when the toggle reaches substantially straightened position; power means for disengaging the latch; and means to control the flow of motive fluid to the 1power means.

8. A garment or laundry pressing machine including in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable to open and close the press; means tending to move the movable pressing element to open the press; a motor for closing the press; motion transmitting means between the motor and the movable pressing element; a latch for engaging with the motion transmitting means to hold the press in closed position; and power operating means for moving the latch to release the motion transmitting means so that the press will be opened by the means tending to move the movable pressing element.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, so this 14th day of November, 1928 ERNEST DAVIS. 

